The anti blogs bog

I've really got into this book I just started reading, Why We're Not Emergent (by two guys who should be). It is pretty good. Even though it dises some of my favourite authors (Sweet, Bell, McManus), it is bang on. We have replaced our Orthodoxy with Orthopraxy. Or at least that is what seems to be the case among many of my peers. In this new revolution of Orthopraxy, while forsaking the Orthodoxy, there seems to be this reformation, of sorts, that is being pushed forward by the blog world. How Luther used comics in the papers in order to get his message out seems to be the same type of thing that is occurring now with blogs. Although, there does seem to be 100% less images of people pooping in the Popes hat (reference Luther's comics if you don't know that this means). I think the difference lies in the attention the author gives to the content.

The thing is, the blog has not only become the tool to get our thoughts out to the world but it has also become the weapon and enemy. I know too many people who, while pastoring, slammed their employer, church, friends and denomination while using language that, putting philosophic semantic views aside, has great negative connotation and are things you would not expect one in the ministry to type.

Back to the book I’m reading. One of the Co-Authors, Ted Kluck, writes about the time he was driving D.A Carson around for a conference at his church. He and Carson begin a discussion about this new blogger revolution. In regards to blogs D.A said, "You have a thought ad then three minutes later it's published for the world to digest. And then another three minutes you have anonymous folks posting messages about how wonderful you are. It tends to inflate one's sense of importance." I have never heard of D.A Carson before this book but I do think he is really on to something. When I write a sermon for youth or Church I think about the theological ramifications of what I say. I try to be as clear a can. Present my message in such a way that there is no confusion about the message (although, I am not always successful). I try not to attack other people or use language that would offend, even though I might sometimes feel like it. You can't use semantics as an excuse forever. This however is not the case in many of my contemporaries. I read some of the stuff out there and I wonder why in the world someone would put that out for the world to see. The internet is not your clothes line.

Whether it is that there is just no point, simple heresy, or just pure none sense, there are certain things that don't need to be posted to the world. Do we think so highly of ourselves that the world needs to know our every issue, pain, intolerance or thought? Even as I write this I feel as though I am being hypocritical for the simple fact that, should anyone truly care what I have to say. The reality is I think people need to spend a little less time worrying about what their next blog should say and a little more on their heart. If they are so bent out of shape by others over emphasis on the orthodox then maybe instead of letting the world now how intellectually superior you are because it is, ‘all about being the hands and feet’ you should spend more time actually living it. There are many theologians who I do not totally agree with everything they teach or believe but yet I still respect them. This is not because I want to keep friends but because they actually live out what they say they believe. They are not just talk. There are too many talkers and not enough doers. Don’t stand high on your pedestal pointing fingers at those you don’t agree with. You might find that pedestal might crack and you’ll end up on your knees. I dare say your Orthodoxy defines your Orthopraxy and vise versa. Stop inflating your head with words and begin to give your opinion through your actions! Blogs are not the enemy- your fingers are! Type slower and think about the ramification of what you are putting out for the world to read.